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Last Updated: Feb 16, 2023
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18 Ways to increase appetite

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Dr. A.K.Koushik .Gastroenterologist • 9 Years Exp.MD - General Medicine, DM - Gastroenterology
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Appetite can be called one of the most significant indicators of health. Some of us eat too much, some of us eat too little, but almost everyone wants to eat better. In the case of both obesity and malnutrition, it is necessary to dig into the causes and find a solution. Whether you are going through a weight loss program or just wanting to eat a variety of healthy foods, you should try some of the following proven methods to enhance your appetite and improve your diet.

1. One should try to break up large meals into smaller ones. Eating large or full meals twice or thrice a day can be challenging for people who don’t have a good appetite. Hence, they must break their large meals into five or six smaller meals. This can be one of the most fruitful and simplest ways for an individual to enhance their appetite and stay healthy.

2. Even if you have a poor appetite and you are skinny, you should never tend to eat empty calories, such as baked goods, chips, candies, or ice cream, with the aim of gaining weight. You must realize that these kinds of foods are low in nutrients and can be bad for your overall health. Also, they can make your appetite even worse. So, always try to eat nutritious and healthy food.

3. Try adding more healthy calories to your meals. It can enhance your appetite and ensure that you are consuming enough food during the day. To add healthy calories, you can choose to cook your meals with some calorie-rich ingredients such as olive oil, nut butter, or whole milk.

4.   If you think you don’t eat enough, you should try to make your mealtimes a congenial social activity. A number of recent studies have shown that you eat more when you share or have your meals with others than when you eat alone.

5. It can be discouraging or overwhelming for you to see big portions of food on your platter when you don’t have a good appetite. So, never fill your plate with even your favorite foods. A full plate can kill your urge to eat. You can also trick your brain by using bigger plates for your meals. Bigger plates can make your meal look smaller and easier to finish.

6. Scheduling your meal times can also help you enhance your appetite. Make it a practice to schedule your meals and set reminders to make sure that you are eating regularly and never skipping a meal.

7. Keep in mind that you should not tend to skip breakfast for any reason, as it can affect your appetite for the entire day. Having breakfast on an everyday basis is really important for you to have a good and healthy appetite.

8.   You must eat less fiber if you are looking forward to increasing your appetite. Let us tell you that diets that are rich in fiber can easily give you a feeling of fullness, which can worsen your appetite. Meals containing high fiber can also slow down your digestion, which can further make you feel full for much longer than usual.

9. Try to drink your calories instead of eating them. This can be an amazing way to increase your calorie intake when you don’t have a great appetite. You can definitely replace some of your meals with high-calorie and nutritious drinks. This can also help you increase your appetite with time.

10.  As we said earlier, large meals can be terrifying to someone who has a poor appetite. So, if you are looking forward to increasing your food intake, you must try to incorporate small, healthy, as well as easy-to-eat snacks into your usual meals. Such healthy snacks can also work as appetizers and increase your appetite.

11. If you really want to increase your food intake, try to eat more of the foods that you like or that are your favorites. You must avoid eating foods that are not appealing or tempting to you, as they can kill your appetite or make it worse.

12. There are certain foods that can produce a lot of gas in your stomach or delay digestion. These foods can make your stomach heavy and reduce your appetite with time. You must avoid eating such foods as much as possible.

13. There is a kind of seasoning known as carminative spices and herbs that can help improve your digestion and increase your food intake. These herbs and spices include black pepper, fennel, peppermint, coriander, cinnamon, mint, and ginger, among others. You must add them to your daily meals.

14.Start working out on a daily basis. Regular exercise does not only keep you fit and fine, but it also increases your food intake like nothing else.

15. Drinking a lot of water or other fluids before meals can worsen your appetite or have negative effects on it. If you tend to do the same, avoid it as much as possible.

16. Are you a regular smoker or an alcoholic? If yes, then you must give up these habits right away, as they will only worsen your appetite. Smokers and alcoholics tend to have smaller appetites than other healthy individuals.

17. You can find a number of supplements in markets that can help you increase your food intake. However, you must consult an expert nutritionist, dietician, or your healthcare provider before you buy or use any of them.

18. You can also try keeping a diary in order to track your meals and set daily food goals. This can also help you have a healthy appetite. Just give it a try!

Conclusion:

In the end, we must tell you that all the tips and suggestions given in this article are based on some thorough research and evidence. So, you can try them with a free mind and see if they work magic for you. We hope that these pieces of advice prove beneficial to you.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult a specialist & get answers to your questions!
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